He is scheduled to speak at 10:15 a.m. at a Youngstown Victory Town Hall meeting at Youngstown State University, according to Chris Maloney of the Mitt Romney Press Office.

''That's right on the heels of the debate,'' Trumbull County Republican Chair Kathi Creed said Wednesday night. ''I think that it will be real exciting.''

Ryan, 42, locks up with Vice President Joe Biden tonight in Danville, Ky., in the only debate between vice presidential candidates.

''I don't know what his address will be on. I know that will help energize, and I'm looking forward to it,'' Creed said of the Youngstown visit.

Campaign stops by the Republican candidates can make a difference in the heavily Democratic Mahoning Valley, she said.

Fact Box

If you go

WHAT: Paul Ryan at Youngstown Victory Town Hall

WHERE: YSU

DOORS OPEN: 7:45 a.m.

Saturday

TICKETS: Available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Friday at Youngstown Victory Office; or Niles Victory Office; or www.mittromney.com/OH

''I'm glad he's going to YSU because it will give the young people the opportunity to hear him and some common-sense solutions,'' she said.

''It might (have an impact) on the young people because sometimes they're looking for different things than we are," she said. "They need the visual. They need to see the candidate and hear the candidate up close, sometimes.''

Besides that, the polls are showing positive signs for the Romney / Ryan campaign, she said.

''I think there's a great amount of hope. I'm pleased. I am very hopeful and encouraged by all of it.''

Ryan was last in Trumbull County on Aug. 16, when his visit included a surprise stop at the Hot Dog Shoppe in Warren.

Romney and Ryan are making a number of appearances in Ohio. Romney made three public appearances on Wednesday and will spend two of the next three days in the state.

"Ohio could well be the place that elects the next president of the United States," he told a crowd in Sidney. "I need you to do that job. We're going to win together."

Romney has not campaigned in Trumbull County. He held a town hall-style meeting in March at Taylor-Winfield Technologies in Youngstown.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made a campaign stop Tuesday in Lordstown on behalf of the Romney / Ryan campaign.

Trumbull County Democratic Chair Dan Polivka said, ''Obviously, they're paying this area a lot of attention. It's a Democratic stronghold.''

The impact of such visits is yet to be determined, he said.

Meanwhile, Democrats continue to work to get President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden back in Trumbull County before the Nov. 6 election, he said.

''John F. Kennedy did when he was running. John Kerry, when he was running, had a big rally in downtown Warren. We're hoping to get them to come here,'' Polivka said.

Biden was last in Trumbull County on Aug. 31, when he campaign at the General Motors Corp. Lordstown Complex. He also campaigned in May at M-7 Technologies in Youngstown.

Obama visited Poland in July, spoke at V&M Star in Youngstown in May 2010 and held a rally at the General Motors plant in Lordstown in September 2009.